Twenty-eight students from nine different undergraduate and community college programs have joined the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) program this summer.

The program was created to:

Expose students to serious biomedical research;

Build a statewide biomedical research infrastructure between undergraduate and graduate institutions; and

Strengthen each undergraduate institution's infrastructure and increase its capacity to conduct cutting-edge biomedical and behavioral research.

Below, we get to know more about INBRE scholar Derek Kleier.

Name: Derek Kleier

Hometown: Trumbull, Neb.

School: University of Nebraska at Kearney

Science has always been part of my life. Growing up on a farm I enjoyed going outside and examining the insects, plants and animals there. My compassion for animals and all living things has shown me the importance and value of life. As a 10-year-old I never imagined that in 11 years I would be working in a research lab at UNMC and studying to become a doctor.

The experience to work at a medical university in a research lab is a huge opportunity that I could not pass up. I have a great interest in the biomedical field. My hope is by the end of the INBRE program I will have a better understanding of biomedical research in order to decide if I want to make it part of my future career as a doctor.

Regardless of what I choose, I know participating in the INBRE program will give me a better understanding and appreciation for research advances in the medical field.